How does a spacecraft leave the surface of the Earth?
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1 point
The spacecraft produced an upward force of thrust that was equal to the downward force of gravity.
The spacecraft produced an upward force of thrust that was greater than the downward force of gravity.
The spacecraft produced a downward force of thrust that was equal to the downward force of gravity.
The spacecraft produced a downward force of thrust that was less than the downward force of gravity.
The spacecraft produced an upward force of thrust that was greater than the downward force of gravity.
The spacecraft leaves the surface of the Earth by producing an upward force of thrust that is greater than the downward force of gravity.
The correct answer is: The spacecraft produced an upward force of thrust that was greater than the downward force of gravity.
To understand why, let's explain how a spacecraft leaves the surface of the Earth:
To leave Earth's surface, a spacecraft needs to overcome the force of gravity, which pulls it towards the ground. This is achieved through the use of rocket engines, which produce thrust.
Thrust is the force that propels the spacecraft forward. According to Newton's third law of motion, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When the rocket engines expel high-speed gases or propellant out of the back of the spacecraft, it creates an equal and opposite force propelling the spacecraft forward.
To leave the surface of the Earth, the spacecraft needs to generate enough thrust to counteract the force of gravity. The force of gravity acts in the downward direction, pulling the spacecraft towards the Earth's surface.
If the spacecraft produces thrust equal to the force of gravity, it would effectively cancel out the force of gravity, but the spacecraft would stay in place. It would neither rise nor fall.
However, in order to leave the surface of the Earth, the spacecraft needs to generate an upward force of thrust that is greater than the downward force of gravity. By doing so, the spacecraft can overcome gravity's pull and begin to ascend.
By producing more thrust than the force of gravity, the spacecraft is able to accelerate upward and eventually achieve escape velocity. Escape velocity is the speed required to break free from Earth's gravitational pull and enter space.
So, in summary, a spacecraft leaves the surface of the Earth by generating an upward force of thrust that is greater than the downward force of gravity, allowing it to overcome gravity's pull and ascend into space.